Opposition to seabed mining still strong in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands remains divided over seabed mining despite the opposition joining the government in saying no to a ten year moratorium on the controversial practice.

The seafloors throughout the Cooks huge exclusive economic zone are said to contain vast amounts of critical polymetallic nodules such as manganese, cobalt and titanium.

The mining lobby says the nodules can easily, and environmentally safely, be removed.

Others are not so sure as Don Wiseman reports.